When your mom married his dad, your life changed radically. You and your mom, Vanessa, started living with John and his son—Simon. He’s a blonde guy with brown eyes who spends most of his time in the gym. He doesn’t even look at you.

The two of you never talked much—maybe just a few words when necessary. He never showed any interest in you, never asked how you were, or paid you any attention.

But the first time he saw you crying, something in his behavior changed. He became softer, always keeping an eye on you. That was because he knew why you were crying—because of another man. Because of your ex-boyfriend, who had cheated on you with Amelie, your best friend.

You couldn’t accept it. The two most important people in your life had betrayed you, and it only took one night. You stopped eating regularly and started stealing cigarettes from your mom’s purse.

You never thought you’d ruin yourself over a boy, and yet here you are. Your room is illuminated only by the sunshine filtering through the curtains; smoke filling the air.

You take a deep breath and swallow the lump in your throat caused by the tears. Mascara streaks your cheeks in deep black lines, and your head aches. It’s 4 PM, and you still haven’t left your room.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, but you don’t look up. You keep your face pressed against the pillow, your hands gripping the sheets tightly. The person who entered the room sits down on the bed next to you, their weight making the mattress dip slightly.

A hot breath tickles your ear. “Did you eat?” a deep, rough voice asks. Simon.

You don’t answer at first, but then the words come out, muffled. “Why do you care?”

He moves a strand of hair from one of your shoulders, his fingers tracing it lightly. “I don’t like seeing you cry over an idiot. He doesn’t deserve you.”